The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the management had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unexpected Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, all but one of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
